WASHINGTON, March 31- German-based auto parts company Robert Bosch GmbH agreed to plead guilty to fixing the prices of spark plugs and other auto parts, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday. Robert Bosch is accused of rigging bids for spark plugs, oxygen sensors and starter motors sold to Ford Motor Co, General Motors Co, and others between 2000 and 2011, the...

BRASILIA, March 31- Industrial output in Brazil probably dropped in February as a nationwide truck strike disrupted production at automakers and food processors, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday. About 60 pork and poultry plants closed temporarily and production lines at Fiat and General Motors plants were also affected. The strike, which lasted two weeks in...

SAO PAULO, March 30- Volkswagen AG has furloughed 4,200 workers at its second largest factory in Brazil for three weeks, a local union said on Monday, as disappearing demand forces carmakers in the country to manage excess capacity. As exports to Argentina have plunged and demand in Brazil hits its worst downturn in over a decade, VW is cutting a shift at the Taubate...

DETROIT— Families of at least 77 people killed in crashes caused by defective General Motors ignition switches will get compensation from the company. Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the total Monday. The fund received a total of 4,342 claims by the Jan. 31 deadline.

Ford Motor Co. said Monday that the Lincoln Continental is coming back after a 13- year hiatus. A concept version of the full-size Continental will be shown at the New York auto show this week. Lincoln, Ford's luxury division, was founded in 1917 by Henry Leland, the former manager of General Motors Co.' s Cadillac division.

NEW YORK, March 30- Ford Motor Co will resurrect the Lincoln Continental as its top-of-the line luxury sedan, betting the classic name will help rebuild the brand's image in the United States and China. Ford's Lincoln will unveil a prototype of the future Continental sedan on Monday ahead of the April 3-12 New York auto show, which will feature many of the...

*President wants rich to keep money in Russia. The former Mrs Russia and Mrs Globe beauty pageant winner is among Russia's super rich but even she and many of her wealthy friends are feeling the pinch from the economic crisis. But the enforced modesty has not yet driven the super wealthy out of Russia or against President Vladimir Putin, who has fanned patriotism...

DETROIT, March 27- Ford Motor Co Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields made $18.6 million in salary and other compensation last year, below the $23.2 million that predecessor Alan Mulally received in 2013, the company said on Friday. Earlier this month, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said its CEO, Sergio Marchionne, received 31.3 million euros. General Motors Co has...

FRANKFURT, March 27- German carmaker Mercedes-Benz plans to launch a mid-sized pickup truck, expanding its premium brand into a lower-priced bracket in a bid to narrow the sales gap with arch rival BMW. The Mercedes pickup will initially target customers in Latin America, South Africa, Australia and Europe, and no decision has been made about whether to launch...